Art Laboe's been credited as the first on-air personality to play Rock n' Roll on the West Coast and is one of the . Also, listen to Gary Garay's tribute to Art Laboe's Original Sound label on Dublab. And don't miss Art Laboe's Sunday Special, Sundays, 6pm til midnight. (It) helped me grieve and accept it a little more easily, Morones said. Why CDs May Actually Sound Better Than Vinyl On Tuesday, flowers will be placed on Laboe's Walk of Fame star at 6800 Hollywood Blvd. Enter to Win a digital download of A Man Called Otto PLUS a $50 savings pass from 1-800-Flowers! Radio DJ Art Laboe, who interviewed Elvis for radio in the 1950s before he helped make Black music and Latino youths lifelong friends, has died. ], Like us on Facebook at LAWeeklyMusic Radio legend Art Laboe, the original oldie but goodie, is still on-air Over the years, his shows were heard on stations including KFWB, KXLA, KPOP, KDA, KPPC, KRTH, KRLA and KFI. Lalo Alcaraz, a syndicated cartoonist and television writer who grew up listening to Art Laboe in San Diego, said the DJ maintained a strong following among Mexican Americans for generations because he always played Latino, White and Black artists together on his shows. [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire. In 2015, iHeartMedia's KHHT-FM (92.3) dropped Laboe's syndicated oldies show after the station abruptly switched to a hip-hop format, sparking angry protests in Los Angeles. and can be heard Sunday-Friday nights 7pm-12am on HOT 92.3 KHHT Los Angeles CA and nationwide on iHeartRadio.com and parts of the show also air on several other stations in the Southwest including Magic 92.5 . However, it dawned on her during a DJ meeting at her station that consisted of solely women. Laboe's show focuses on unlocking listeners' memories, but he's helping people create them, too. This was a strong way of communication to reach incarcerated loved ones, says McNeil. Art Laboe obituary | Pop and rock | The Guardian Through investigation, the FCC says they determined Nancy Graham was the operator. But it was in Los Angeles where he found a formula that worked: playing Black and white R&B music and rock together for the city. Listen to top radio stations, news, music, sports, talk, and comedy. "Laboe was the voice that they would listen to on their rides or their Sunday kickbacks at the park or barbecuing with their family," she said. iHeart. By 1956, Laboe had an afternoon show and became the citys top radio program. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Recently Played. Art Laboe, beloved California DJ who popularized 'oldies but goodies So far, the response has been interesting. Anthony Macias, a University of California, Riverside ethnic studies professor, said the music Laboe played went with the dedications, enhancing the messages. Art Laboe is responsible for many "firsts" in the radio and record business. His baritone voice invited listeners to call in dedications and request a 1950s-era rock n roll love ballad or a rhythm and blues tune from Alicia Keys. DJ Art Laboe sits in his studio and talks about his 75 years in the radio business on Oct. 9, 2018, in Palm Springs, Calif. Laboe, a pioneering disc jockey who hosted a syndicated oldies show for . His second passion is travel: he's currently on a mission to see all 193 countries on the planet. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Right now, were starting off with records that people are familiar with, but we have to break local records over time.. California DJ Art Laboe, 97, dies in Palm Springs oldies but goodies is the creator, producer and host of the internationally syndicated radio show, Sunday Night Slow Jams, currently heard on over 200 radio stations in 14 countries. Field agents based in the FCCs San Francisco office tracked the station to a home on Broadway. But he started gracing the airwaves at age 13, when he started an amateur radio station from his bedroom. For example, songs like Little Anthony & the Imperials Im on the Outside (Looking In) and Wars Dont Let No One Get You Down spoke of perseverance and a desire to be accepted. More stimulating talk and news radio in Los Angeles and Orange County. Being Mexican American myself we were always at these huge family gatherings and like, big barbeques and different birthdays and celebrations. Alex Nogales, president and CEO of the Los Angeles-based National Hispanic Media Coalition, said generations of Latino fans attended Laboe-sponsored concerts to hear the likes of Smokey Robinson, The Spinners or Sunny & The Sunliners. Oldies Stations | iHeartMedia Stations | iHeartMedia Music, radio and podcasts, all free. After serving in the Navy during World War II and working in the Bay area, he moved to Los Angeles KXLA-AM in 1950 (the station later became KRLA), according to a Laboe history written by author Harvey Kubernik. He was 97. Listen to Jennifer Jones Lee on Wake Up Call, Bill Handel Morning Show, Gary and Shannon, John and Ken, Tim Conway Jr, Coast to Coast AM, KFI News and more on KFI AM 640! Regular listeners were already familiar with her as a co-host, and Morones said she trusted Laboe's expertise at spotting talent.. Art Laboe, the pioneering DJ who became one of the first to play rhythm and blues and rock-n-roll, also credited with helping end segregation in Southern California, has died. The station was KSAN 1450 AM. Art Laboe is honored with the first-ever Magic 92.5 Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes the broadcast veterans many achievements over his 75-year career. Were so happy hes a part of the Magic 92.5 family and we were incredibly proud to present him with the stations very first Lifetime Achievement Award. 'Oldies but Goodies': Longtime radio DJ Art Laboe dies at 97 His first Los Angeles station was KPOP, and he eventually played records on KRLA. Art Laboe - Lowrider Original - MotorTrend KDAY is 90's Hip-Hop. Photo: Getty Images. Its warned her to power down the station or face fines and other penalties. The Art Laboe Day ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Union Walk, 11127 Ramona Blvd., a new 62-unit townhouse development built on part of the site of the former Legion Stadium. Art Laboe, who recently marked 79 years on air, was a pioneering DJ widely credited with desegregating Southern California's airwaves, in addition to popularizing the phrase "oldies but goodies." While the show records in the valley and is a recognized SoCal staple, it airs on 14 radio stations across California and Arizona. Stream live CNN, FOX News Radio, and MSNBC. "And I havent let go since," Laboe said. Art Laboe, longtime oldies DJ credited with helping end segregation in KOKO 94.3 Fresno, CA,(a station owned by Art Laboe): . Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. California and Arizona inmates would send in their own dedications and ask Laboe for updates from family. While Laboe is something of an L.A. phenomenon he was hosting events in El Monte before many of his listeners were born his reach extends beyond the Southland. Power 106 might regularly play Y.G., DJ Mustard and the artists on TDE, but it only began doing so after theyd built a national fan base. While the show records in the valley and is a recognized SoCal staple, it airs on 14 radio stations across California and Arizona. A two-minute video recapping Art's life and accomplishments played over the arena's big screens, with images of Art Laboe from the 40s til today, alongside greats like Jerry Lee Lewis, Dick Clark and Little Richard.The crowd's eyes were fixated on the black and white images of . Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. The American disc jockey Art Laboe, who has died aged 97, may have been the first person to recognise that a rock'n'roll song could enjoy a life beyond its few . ", It was the first time he had heard his babys voice, Laboe told The Associated Press in 2019. LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 93.5 KDAY-FM radio, SoCal's home of original hip-hop and R&B and the leading media brand under Meruelo Media, proudly welcomes and announces LA's Iconic . In 2015, iHeartMedias KHHT-FM (92.3) dropped Laboes syndicated oldies show after the station abruptly switched to a hip-hop format, sparking angry protests in Los Angeles. Silence falls over the studio when Luna is asked about Laboe's death. Enter to Win a digital download of A Man Called Otto PLUS a $50 savings pass from 1-800-Flowers! Morones said the production company is preparing to sell new Laboe merchandise to keep his memory alive. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras, File), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He later developed a strong following among Mexican Americans for hosting the syndicated The Art Laboe Connection Show. His baritone voice invited listeners to call in dedications and request a 50s-era rock n roll love ballad or a rhythm and blues tune from Alicia Keys. Morones said Laboe was aware his audience would welcome "a female voice" and someone who spoke Spanish before inviting Luna to co-host. The 93-Year-Old Deejay Who Connects Prisoners to Loved Ones - MEL Magazine Lavender Haze Taylor Swift Midnights 2:10 AM. I don't think people understand how significant it is as far as communication goes, says Garay. "And this tough, hard-nosed guy burst into tears.". His show has been syndicated since 1991. Candace Silva-Torres, a producer and DJ for KCRW in Los Angeles known as DJ SiLVA, relates. Our Radio App allows you to listen to top radio stations, news, sports, music, talk and comedy. iHeartRadio launches the ValenTime Machine Playlist, which lets listeners enter their anniversary date to find a playlist of the most popular love songs from their anniversary year. Gary Garay, who hosts the monthly Dublab show Mas Exitos con Ganas, grew up in Southern California's high desert and has been listening to Laboe for years. KOST 103.5 FM - Your Feel Good Station and Home of the Ellen K Morning Show. He's been credited with helping end segregation in Southern California by organizing live DJ shows at drive-in eateries, which invited white, Black and Latino people to dance to rock-n-roll during the '50s, when the older generation was mostly listening to Frank Sinatra and Big Band music. The final show from Laboe, who is credited with coining the phrase "oldies but goodies," was broadcast Sunday. Audience members would attend the shows in person to request songs and dedications. The radio legend is credited with pioneering industry standards such as audience requests and song dedications, and he is believed to be the first DJ to play rock 'n roll tunes on Los Angeles radio.